SECTION 11 CONTACT RATIO To assure continuous smooth tooth action, as one pair of teeth ceases action a succeeding pair

of teeth must already have come into engagement. It is desirable to have as much overlap as is possible. A measure of this overlap action is the contact ratio. This is a ratio of the length of the line-of-action to the base pitch. Figure 11-1 shows the geometry for a 2. Increase the number of teeth. As the number of teeth increases and spur gear pair, which is the simplest case, and is representative of the concept for all gear types. The the pitch diameter grows, again there Is a longer line-of-action in the length-of-action is determined from the intersection of region between the outside radii. 3. Increase working tooth depth. This can be done by adding the line-of-action and the outside radii. The ratio of addendum to the tooth and thus increase the outside radius. However, the length-of action to the base pitch is determined this requires a larger dedendum, and requires a special tooth design. from: (11-1) An example of helical gear:

dn = 200 z1 = 12 mn = 3 =30 x2 = 0 It is good practice to maintain a contact ratio of 1.2 z2 = 60 x1=+0.09809 ax = 125 or greater. Under no circumstances should the ratio m1=3.46410 da1= 48.153 dt = 22.79588 wt=23.1126 drop below 1.1, calculated for ell tolerances at their db2=191.611 da2 = 213.842 db1 =38.322 a =1.2939 worst case values. A contact ratio between 1 and 2 means that part of Note that in Table 11-1 only the radial or circular (plane of rotation) the time two pairs of teeth are in contact and during contact ratio is considered. This is true of both the spur and helical gear the remaining time one pair is in contact. A ratio equations. However, for helical gears this is only one component of two. between 2 and 3 means 2 or 3 pairs of teeth are For the helical gears total contact ratio, , the overlap (axial) contact always in contact. Such a high ratio is generally not obtained with external spur gears, but can be ratio, must be added. See Paragraph 11.4. developed in the meshing of internal gears, helical gears, or specially designed nonstandard external spur11.2 Contact Ratio Of Bevel Gears, gears. When considering all types of gears, contact ratio is The contact ratio of a bevel gear pair can be derived from composed of two components: consideration of the eqivalent spur gears, when viewed from the back 1. Radial contact ratio (plane of rotation cone. See Figure 8-8. perpendicular to axes) With this approach, the mesh can be treated as spur gears. Table 2. Overlap contact ratio (axial) 11-2 presents equations calculating the contact ratio. The sum is the total contact ratio, An example of spiral bevel gear (see Table 11-2): The overlap contact ratio component exists only in m=3 gear pairs that have helical or spiral tooth forms. z1 = 20 n = 20 = 35 z2 = 40 d1 = 60 d2 = 120 a1= 23.95680 Rv1=33.54102 11.1 Radial Contact Ratio Of Spur And Helical Rvb1=30.65152 Rvb2=122.60610 R2=134.16408 ha1= 3.4275 Gears, Rva1=36.9685 Rva2=135.83658 ha2 = 1.6725 =1.2825 The equations for radial (or plane of 11.3 Contact Ratio For Nonparallel And Nonintersecting Axes rotation) contact Pairs, ratio for spur and helical gears are This group pertains to screw gearing and worm gearing. The given in Table equations are approximations by considering the worm and worm gear 11-1, with mesh in the plane perpendicular to worm gear axis and likening it to reference to Figure spur gear and rack mesh. Table 11-3 presents these equations. 11-2. When the contact Example of worm mesh: ratio is inadequate, there are three mx = 3 an = 20 z2 = 30 Zw = 2 means to increase d1 = 44 d2 =90 y = 7.76517 x=20.17024 it. These are db2 =84.48050 = 1.8066 ha1 = 3 d1 =96 somewhat obvious from examination of Equation (11-1). 1. Decrease the pressure angle. This makes a longer line-of action as it extends through the region between the two outside radii. 382